Massed Group Desensitization in Reduction of Test-Anxiety

Abstract

30 test-anxious nursing students were randomly assigned to either a massed desensitization, placebo, or control group. All treatment was applied in 3 2-hr. and 20-min. sessions over an 8-day period. The massed group desensitization sessions began with 20 min. of recorded relaxation instructions. The remainder of the sessions consisted of Ss visualizing items from a test-anxiety hierarchy while concentrating on remaining relaxed. The placebo group sessions began with 20 min. of a recorded presentation on the merits of good study techniques, concentration, learning, and personal efficiency. Lectures on these topics comprised the remainder of the sessions. The control Ss merely received the pre- and post-treatment measures. A significant difference ( p.01) was obtained on the posttest measure between the massed desensitization group and the placebo group and between the massed desensitization and control groups. The results of this study agree with earlier studies which indicate that massed group desensitization is an efficient and efficacious procedure for the reduction of anxiety based disorders.